Chapter 21

Chapter 21: The Muslim Empires

AP World History II

The Ottoman Empire

Ottomans gain ground in Asia Minor (Anatolia) throughout the 1350’s1453: Ottoman capture of Constantinople under the Ottoman sultan Mehmed IIOttomans were a major power in the Arab World, the Balkans, and around the Black and Red Seas.

The Ottoman Empire

Turkic Cavalry quickly turns into a warrior aristocracy

Janissaries: infantry divisions which dominated the imperial armies – Usually conscripted as adolescents– Controlled the artillery and firearms– Gained tremendous power as time went on

The Ottoman Empire

Sultans were absolute monarchsOttoman conquest usually meant effective administration and tax reliefThe grand vizier (wazir) was the true head of “state.”Political succession was vague and often contested however – Sons often battled after the death of their father

The Ottoman Empire

The Ottoman EmpireOttoman sultans worked tirelessly to improve the imperial capital of Constantinople (Istanbul)

Saint Sophia was converted to a mosque

Built the Suleymaniye mosque (below)

The Ottoman Empire

What were some of the social features of life along the Bosporus?

Explain the function of both the merchant and artisan classes.

The Ottoman EmpireWas the Ottoman Empire plagued to decline?

The empire did last into the 20th century, and lasted for over 600 years!

However, later sultans were less prepared to rule– Increasing power to the viziers, and Janissary corps.

– Ottoman defeat at the battle of Lepanto against the combined Spanish and Venetian fleet in 1571

– Ottomans were unable to push the Portuguese from the Indian Ocean in the 1500s

• Ottoman tax collectors lose critical revenue

The Ottoman EmpireInflux of silver bullion in the 16th century from the New World also destabilized the Ottoman economyOttomans did not overly concern themselves with developments in Europe, like Scientific Revolutions, enlightenment, and industrial advancements of the 17-1800’s.Ottomans fell behind in trade and warfare more than anythingJanissaries block most modes of change in defense of their own power.

The Safavids

Sunnis: recognized the legitimacy of the first three successors to Muhammad (abu Bakr, Umar, and Uthman)Shi’a: recognized only the fourth caliph (Ali…Mohammad’s cousin and son-in-law)– Ottomans: Sunni– Safavids: Shi’a

This rivalry has gone on since the 7th century, and continues today!

The Safavids

Sail al-Din (Saladin): with the Mongol collapse of the 14th Century, he began a militant campaign to purify and reform Islam and spread teachings amongst Turkic tribes

The Safavids

In 1501, Isma’il led the Shi’a followers to victory in the city of Tabriz, where he proclaimed shah, or emperor.

The SafavidsVariants in Islam led the Safavids to battle with the Ottomans by 1514.

The Safavids were NOT as militarily technologically advanced as the Ottomans.

The Safavids were sorely defeated at the Battle of Chaldiran.

Isma’il was largely ineffective after this defeat.– Ottomans could not take Tabriz (capital) because of

distance from supply lines

– Shi’aism would be confined to this area (modern day Iran/southern Iraq)

The Safavids

Abbas I (r. 1587-1629), aka Abbas the Great– Empire reaches the height

of its strength and prosperity

– Used “slave” regiments that mirrored the Janissaries

– Built the army to 40,000– Moved capital to Isfahan– Founded several colleges– Supported the arts,

architecture, etc.

The Safavids

Shahs claim to be descended from imams, or successors of Ali

Mullahs are local and mosque officials who were prayer leaders

Shia’ism becomes an integral part of Iranian identity– Pressuring conversions of other faiths

Women faced legal and social disadvantages

The Safavids

After Abbas the Great (I), the decline of the empire was rapid.Weak shahs which were supported by the “slave” regiment were often the culprit– (although Abbas II from 1642-1666 was rather

effective)

By 1722 Isfahan was besieged by Afghani tribesArea becomes battleground for surrounding empires, and nomadic raiders for years

The Mughals

Babur founds the Mughal Dynasty through military conquest by 1526.– Used Ottoman military

tactics

– Was less motivated by religion than the other Muslim Dynasties

– Establishes a dynasty that will expand and last for over 300 years!

The MughalsBabur dies at age 48 in 1530, and his son Humayan takes over.– Disputes over

succession

– Exiled into Safavid land

– Returns to restore Mughal rule in 1556, and is successful

– Dies as a result of library accident (!)

The Mughals

Akbar (one of Humayan’s sons) takes over at age 13– Imperiled by enemies– One of the greatest

leaders in history– Ruled at the same time

as Elizabeth I, Philip of Spain, Suleyman the Magnificent, and Abbas I.

The MughalsAkbar (cont’d)– Had a vision of uniting India under his rule– Patronized the arts– Pursued policies of reconciliation and cooperation with

Hindu princes and the Hindu majority• Encouraged intermarriage• Abolished the Hindu head-tax• Promoted Hindus to the highest ranks• Ended a long-standing ban on the building of Hindu temples

– Religious Tolerance was but a means to end sectarian divisions on the subcontinent

• New faith: Din-i-ilahi which blended Hindu and Muslim elements

The Mughals

Akbar (cont’d)– Public works

– Improved calendar

– Alcohol regulation

– Encouraged widow’s to remarry (not accepted in Hindu or Muslim society) and children NOT to marry

• Outlawed Sati

– His sons fight over who will be successor

– Din-i-Ilahi was unsuccessful

The MughalsMughal rule reaches its zenith under the rule of Akbar’s sons…Jahangir (r. 1605-1627) and Shah Jahan (r.1627-1658).– Delhi, Agra, and Lahore are cultural

centers– Mughal army was HUGE (with

elephants!)– Poverty amongst lower classes was

rampant– Lack of discipline and training in Mughal

armies– Lagged behind the west in invention and

the sciences

India was a trading post for the world, particularly exporting cotton, and other goods imported from Asia

The Mughals

Jahangir and Shah Jahan are both known to be Patrons of the Arts…– Building of the Taj

Mahal– Blends Persian and

Hindu traditions– Blends Islamic

geometry with Hindu ornamentation

“If there is paradise on earth-It is here…it is here.”

The Mughals

Status of women was higher in the court of the ruler– Wives of Jahangir and Shah Jahan increased power as

their husbands lost themselves in the arts and the vices

– Other women however, did not fare so well. Many of the reforms pushed by Akbar were lost.

• Sati found its way back, unveiled women were shunned, burden of dowry returned

The Mughals

Aurangzeb: Shah Jahan’s son

Two goals:– 1-extend Mughal

control throughout the subcontinent

– 2-purify Islam and rid the subcontinent of Hinduism

The MughalsThe first of his goals (unification of all of India) was successful, but created lots of enemies, and cost lots of moneyWhile he led battles in the south, there were uprisings in the north!Local leaders were growing more autonomous. The lack of an efficient bureaucracy and administration, and lack of attention being paid to it, was causing the Dynasty to break apart!

The MughalsReligious policies weakened the internal alliances and disrupted the social peace from Akbar. – Revival of sectarian violence (not conversion, as

Aurangzeb had hoped for)– Forbade the building of new temples (Hindu),

reinstated the head tax on Hindus.– Development of Sikhism as an anti-Muslim force on

the subcontinentMughal Empire was under attack from all areas, and ultimately was too weak to do anything about it.Decline of the Mughals leads to growing military and economic intervention by the Europeans (like, the British).